Third Year of the Feminist Fund Dears

Our roots are growing stronger! Third year of the Feminist Fund Dears,

FemFund is 3 years old already! We feel that after three years we are standing firmly on two legs: the femi- After two intense and fairly crazy nist community that uses the Fund’s years, 2020 was a year of rooting and money keeps on growing regularly, building strong foundations for the and there are also more and more mature and stable organization that persons who support the Fund FemFund wants to be. We used the with monthly donations. We are time of the pandemic to care for rela- an organization that specializes in tions within the team, strengthen the providing grants and feminist philan- organization’s security, order our pro- thropy. We reach groups and organi- cedures and formalities, and to talk zations from all over Poland, from about our vision of FemFund and how cities, towns, and villages; within the We invite you to read the summary to strengthen the feminist movement feminist movement, we support the of the year 2020 in FemFund! in Poland strategically and in the long voices of minorities, the excluded, run. and the marginalized. The persons Magda, Justyna, Gosia, who co-create this movement daily Marta and Mona still decide whom to support. Bigger and wiser FemFund!

We started 2020 as a stronger team, from Ulex Project. It was a much about our key values, about the cur- joined by Mona Szychowiak and needed conversation, thanks to which rent political context, about the needs Gosia Leszko . A while later, we we were able to critically look at our of our community and its internal started a regular cooperation with practices of overworking and (not) diversity. For many months we were Do Bregin . resting. In 2020, we wanted to take methodically building our under- care of FemFund as a workplace, we standing of how we want to act and That way, we increased our inner created a social benefits fund and, for what we want to achieve. In the end, strengths and skills, and created two the first time in herstory, we went to- our plan will probably fit one sheet key programs within FemFund: grants gether for a trip to a forest. of paper, but it will be a very well and fundraising, supported by the thought-through sheet! Board and administration. Throughout the whole year, thanks to the sisterly support of Prospera – a The new shape of the team and divi- network uniting women’s funds from sion of tasks were combined with a all over the world – we worked on a conversation about how to work to- strategic plan for FemFund for the gether in a way that helps us regener- next few years. As a team, we spent ate and save our nerves . dozens of hours discussing where we want FemFund to head towards and We were supported in thinking about the role we want it to play in the fem- it by a wonderful workshop by Ilaj inist movement in Poland. We talked

FEMFUND.PL More and more feminism!

Starting a year with an open call for The great news was also that, com- and organizations from all over Po- proposals has become our tradition in pared to previous contests, we have land – also those far away from big 2020. We were delighted to see that seen the largest growth in the number cities, recently created, and debuting the third call received a record num- of ideas by groups and organizations in our common movement. ber of applications for mini-grants. from Eastern Poland, specifically There were 280 of them, from 160 podlaskie, lubelskie, świętokrzyskie In 2020, the money from the Fund places in Poland! and podkarpackie voivodeships. supported a record number of 25 ini- What is more, over 30% of all the tiatives. Of course, most of them were applications came from rural commu- chosen by the very same groups and nities, and over half of the groups organizations that had applied for the and organizations participating in funds . the call said to have little or very little fundraising experience. As a result, a lot of feminist goodness has been taking place → This data shows that the mini-grant program remain what they were meant to be from the beginning: an accessible and friendly source of financing for feminist activism, performed by very diverse groups

FEMFUND.PL Third edition of the mini-grants!

• Teenage girls from Wałbrzych organized an activist camp and study visits to feminist organizations in Poland and are now planning their own actions.

• Pink Boxes, filled with free men- struation products, were sent to various places in Poland, and animated videos about periods, created by MenstrUlka group, can be found online.

• Five girls from Brzesko started or continued learning how to program.

Odważne Dziewczyny (Brave Girls) from Wałbrzych during a camp in Mniszków Third edition of the mini-grants!

• Queer activists organized two trips to support the LGBTQPIA commu- nities in Dębica and Tuchów, two towns where discriminatory reso- lutions had been passed (so-called “LGBT-ideology free zones”).

• Young refugees from Caucasus went together to Mieroszyno to meet feminist and migrant activists from Tricity, rest by the sea, and get to know each other better.

• Mothers of children with disabilities from around Bieńkowo regen- erated thanks to massages, horse riding classes, and meetings in cir- Queer Tour in Puławy cles. Third edition of the mini-grants!

• Girls from the school in Suchorze learned the basics of self-defense and participated in classes about puberty. Hygiene packs for men- struating persons were provided for their school.

• A unique Women’s Village Cinema was created in Wiązownica-Kolonia, where women can watch movies, chat, and take part in a yoga class.

• Participants of herstory workshops in Łódź restored the memory of for- gotten heroines: Jewish caretakers of children from the Łódź ghetto.

Birthday of the PasjoDzielnia (PassionSharing) Foundation in Wiązownica-Kolonia Third edition of the mini-grants!

• A new short film premiered on YouTube: “Wiadomość” (“The Message”) was entirely created by a group and transgender persons from Zabrze.

• Over a dozen women with movement and seeing disabilities participated in classes of feminist self-defense and assertiveness in Cracow and Wrocław.

• Activists from the Workers' Initia- tive trade union have developed proposals for solutions in situations of conflict and violence – they will be submitted to a vote during the Sonia and Tomek from the group Kadr na Równość (Frame for Equality), Katowice national Congress in March 2021. Ada and Bożena from MenstrUlka group in Wrocław Third edition of the mini-grants!

• Women from Chełm area who had experienced violence took part in empowerment workshops.

• Women, non-binary persons and trans persons had an opportunity to play ball in a supportive atmosphere of sisterhood during open football trainings.

• Colorful Paramedics cared for pro- testers against the abortion ban and during the Climate Camp. They also prepared ICE cards, which they delivered to the organizers of the Equality Marches all over Poland.

Training of Kobieca* Akademia Piłkarska (Women's* Football Academy) in Warsaw Third edition of the mini-grants!

• Teenagers from Białystok took sex education into their own hands and organized open webinars on informed consent, HIV prevention, and heteronorm.

• Refugees from the Warsaw center in Targówek met during cultural outings, workshops and walks in a friendly, informal atmosphere.

• The first queer artistic festival, with vogueing workshops, film screen- ings and drag shows, took place in Lublin.

Ala Urwał during the QUEERZ GET LOUD Festival in Lublin Workshops with residents of the Center for Foreigners in Warsaw, conducted by the Informal Group Trzykrotność (Threefold) Third edition of the mini-grants!

• A group of self-advocates created suggestions on how to adapt WenDo self-defense workshops to the needs of persons on the autism spectrum.

• A group of mothers from the vicinity of Komorów met for several months with a psychologist, physiotherapist, and in so-called circles.

• 4 body-positive workshops, including one for parents who want to support a good relationship between a child and their own body, took place in Łódź.

• Women’s Club, a safe haven where women can meet, have a coffee, Workshops for mums from Kiedy Rodzi się Matka (When a Mother is Born) read or – if need arises – take group from Komorów refuge and spend a night was created in Łapy-Dębowina. Permanent cooperation or we act all the time

Our three-year cooperation program is already one year old! There is no way to write about all the activities, so we present a very abbreviated and by no means complete overview of 2020 from our Grantees .

FEMFUND.PL New• spaces

• Thanks to Stowarzyszenie dla Ziemi • Deaf girls have better access to emotional intelligence for the Deaf (Association for the Earth), a tailor's knowledge thanks to the work of community and inaugurated the workshop and a women's club the Różowy Orzech (Pink Nut) series "In the circle of women. were established in the center for group. Its members organized work- Conversations of the Pink Nut”. foreigners in Łuków – a space for shops on sex education and meetings and joint work of female residents, as well as the only place in the center with a well-function- ing external Internet!

• The Kopacze-Diggers collective has been building a space for development and rest for activists in the Masovian countryside with their own hands. Works are still in pro- gress, but already two collectives that act for social justice spent time in Kopacze in 2020.

Zmapuj Siebie (Map Yourself) camp for young girls in Izerskie Mountains FEMFUND.PL We• are growing deep

W(y)puszczone

• There are two new organizations organized the first program meeting community. Sułkowiczanki organ- on the map of the Polish NGOs: two in its herstory. Congratulations! ized Chechnian cuisine workshops collectives supported by FemFund conducted by Khedi from Fundacja decided to associate! We welcome • Many organizations and groups Kobiety Wędrowne. NOMADA Stowarzyszenie Kolektyw Kobie- have grown: for example, SexWork Association takes care of the pink tostan (Association Kobietostan Poland and Prowincja Równości box with pads and tampons, which Collective) and Stowarzyszenie (Equality Province) were joined by was placed next to its seat by Feministyczne Ciotki Klotki persons who engage in their activi- MenstrUlka as a part of this years’ (Ciotki Klotki Feminist Associa- ties. Another group that acted for mini-grant. Our feminist ecosystem tion). Fundacja Kobiety Wędrowne rooting were Wypuszczone – a col- is growing stronger and stronger (Wandering Women Foundation) lective that organizes forest camps through relations! for women and queer persons. The group got bigger, so her members • The members of Klub Kobiet (Wom- put a lot of effort into strengthen- en’s Klub) in Hańsk had a meeting ing relationships, consensual deci- with a psychologist, which helped sion making, and discussing shared them get through the isolation in values, in order to return in 2021 the countryside and the fear caused with new, even better camps. by the pandemic. It was a year of

Ciotki Klotki from Głuchołazy Klotki Ciotki mutual care and support . • There were also networking oppor- tunities within the FemFund FEMFUND.PL New• challenges — pandemic and politics

• Mindra, the Roma assistant work- • In response to the political hate pandemic. We are keeping our fin- ing for Nomada Association, has campaign against LGBTQPIA gers crossed for them and we await supported Roma children and people, Manufaktura Inicjatyw them with open arms! families in virtual education and Różnorodnych (Manufacture of communicating online with institu- Diverse Initiatives) organized a sup- tions and offices since the begin- portive "Rainbow WenDo" training. ning of the pandemic. • Divers from the ecofeminist collec- • SexWork Poland created a crisis tive Bojka – that brings together fund for sex workers, which sup- persons with disabilities – not only ported 162 persons in difficult performed their regular train- situations. A grant from the Fund ings, but also engaged in saving helped pay for 11 psychological and the green areas around the river gynecological consults. Bogdanka in Poznań.

• Two FemFund grantees: To dla nas ważne! and Ciotki Klotki temporar- ily suspended their cooperation with FemFund, as they cannot perform their activities during the Bojka Diving Collective

FEMFUND.PL Solidarity and mutual help! or we are in this together

FEMFUND.PL No one will walk alone!

The recent year saw the beginning feminist plans to change or to be fundraisers: by Nomada Association, of the global COVID-19 pandemic, irrevocably cancelled. At the same which prepared information about which in Poland was accompanied by time, feminist activism, solidarity COVID-19 in two dialects of the tightening the hostile policies against during the pandemic, and mutual Romani language, and by Workers' women and the LGBTQPIA commu- help became more necessary than Initiative Nationwide Trade Union nity. Actions taken by politicians in ever. for legal aid for laid off employees. response to rising health risks have endangered workers' rights, thus low- At that time, our grantees – refugees ering job security and stability. At the from Fundacja Kobiety Wędrowne same time, the hardship of adjusting and from the center in Łuków, co- to the new situation was borne pri- operating with the "Dla Ziemi" As- marily by those performing unpaid sociation, as well as pensioners labor (mothers and childcare workers) from the Ciotki Klotki group from and in feminized industries (cash- Głuchołazy – started sewing and iers, nurses, ward orderlies, lab work- sharing masks. New financial aid in- ers, caregivers of the elderly, social itiatives supported – among others welfare workers, etc.). The risks and – by FemFund, were created: Nettle constraints of organizing gatherings, Solidarity Fund and Crisis Fund for public meetings, and simply meet- sex workers. We shared information ing, have caused a great variety of about two more, very important, FemFund team during a protest against tightening the abortion law FEMFUND.PL The year 2020 was also marked In 2020, we kept repeating – and we embryopathological rationale. Our by intensive strike and protest repeat it now: Deaf grantees from Różowy Orzech actions in which we took part, just organized a discussion about abor- like thousands of other people in tion and protests in Polish Sign Poland. We did not close our umbrel- Do you need an abortion? Language, and we were there. We las, we shouted “Black Lives Matter” Call: +48 22 292 25 97 have shared and continue to rec- in solidarity, we protested police or write to: ommend conversations organized brutality towards Stop Bzdurom, we [email protected] by Pełnoprawna and Article 6 – attended demonstrations in defense [email protected] initiatives done by extraordinary of abortion (Koniec kompromisów! Are you looking for “day after” feminists who have spent years Write to: [email protected] Legalna, dostępna na żądanie aborcja pills? fighting for accessible feminism, teraz! – No more compromise! Legal, You are not and you will never be advancing our knowledge about alone! accessible abortion on demand now!), Granic breaking physical ability regimes, and demonstrations in solidarity with #AborcjaBez and building a collective struggle those arrested (Nigdy nie będziesz szła among women, queer communi- sama! – You’ll never walk alone!); ties, and people with disabilities. and, for the first time in history, we At the same time, we tried to make used the word “Wypierdalać”* on our the extremely important voices of The accessibility of feminism, in- Facebook page. women with disabilities heard in cluding information about abortion the discussion about abortion and and protests, matters to all of us! * “Get the fuck out!” – the slogan of protests against the Polish government (translator’s comment).

FEMFUND.PL Continuous Throughout the whole 2020 Fem- Supporting women's, transgender, Fund could count on the continu- non-binary and queer activism is financial support ous support of our donors. The closely tied to the Fund's financial is an invaluable number of people who contribute independence as an organization. to the Fund with a monthly trans- We do not use any public funds in strength in the fer has increased to 200. In the last Poland, and our long-term financial present times! year – a time of epidemiological and stability is built by individuals who economic crisis – some of you have support us with a regular, monthly increased the amount of your dona- transfers. Thanks to them, we are tions. And what is most incredible, able to support groups that have no when we ask what you expect in re- chance of getting money from other turn, you respond with “keep doing sources, but whose voice and activi- what you do”, “FemFund’s values are ties are truly needed by all of us. my values” . That is why, as long as FemFund This year we also began cooperating exists, we will continue doing two with Polish ethical business. Balagan things: asking for regular financial brand invited us to be one of the or- support and inviting you to use the ganizations they support financially money FemFund raises . FemFund – the cost of each product includes a is the feminist movement's piggy percentage for social action. We are bank that anyone and everyone can glad to be trailblazing business fund- contribute to! raising.

FEMFUND.PL FemFund grants are not only a financial help for individual initiatives. Participating in the project The Fund created a space By supporting the Fund, you support changed our stereotypes about the where women can turn their dreams feminist philanthropy based on trust, feminist movement. We see ourselves into reality. It gives flexibility, under- solidarity, relations, and learning in this movement, we see there is a standing, and direct contact, which are from one another. Here is what our space for all of us here. often lacking when it comes to grants. grantees say about it: We've learned what it's like to pursue an idea when grant givers have confidence in us and we don't have to focus only on meeting result indicators.

During the whole duration of the grant, we were experiencing support from FemFund. The feeling of nor being alone in the process gave us encouragement during difficult times – and we don't just mean financial support, but also responding to attacks on our group and community.

FEMFUND.PL Artists for feminism and feminism for everyone!

In 2020, we celebrated the diversity low-paid work of cashiers, sales- full accessibility for Deaf people of feminism. With the help of dozens women, nurses, social workers, day- and people with disabilities. It is our of amazing artists, we created care workers, or ladies responsible common responsibility, just like the (#KalendariumFemFundu), for cleaning. It is the feminism of anti-fascism and fighting any form celebrating holidays that are impor- mothers and of those who want to of violence against women. tant for the feminist struggle. have children but cannot. It is also a fight for legal, accessible abor- This is the feminist we want to do By creating the #FemFundCalendar, tion. It is the activism of sex work- with you! we want to let it be known that our ers. It is standing hand in hand with feminism is a legacy of the strug- migrants, refugees, and fighting for gles of factory workers, trade union dignity of female inmates. It is car- members, and suffragettes, it is a ing for the rights of girls and elderly fight against racism and xenophobia, women, including those who live in it is a united front with transgender rural areas, experience poverty, who persons, persons on the autism spec- don't have enough time or access to trum, lesbians, and anyone experi- public services. Finally, it is the care encing homophobia or biphobia. Our for other species and the whole en- feminism is inextricably linked to an vironment, therefore a fight against appreciation of the unpaid care work systemic sources of exploitation. Our of women, the often invisible and feminism is an effort towards Art by Magda Skrzeczkowska Art by FEMFUND.PL Special works were created, commemorating:

International Women's Rights Day World Day of Environmental Debt International Day of Persons with Disabilities March 8 August 22 December 3 International Day for the Elimination International Day of the Deaf International Migrants Day of Racial Discrimination September 27 December 18 March 21 World Safe Abortion Day International Transgender Visibility Day September 28 March 31 International Day of Older Persons World Autism Awareness Day October 1 April 2 International Day of the Girl Child International Lesbian Visibility Day October 11 April 26 International Day of Women Living International Labor Day in Rural Areas May 1 October 15 International Day Against Homophobia, International Day for the Eradication of Transphobia and Biphobia Poverty May 17 October 17 Mother's Day World Feminist Day May 26 November 7 International Day of Sex Workers International Day Against Fascism June 2 and Anti-Semitism World Refugee Day November 9 June 20 International Day for the Elimination of International Day for the Rights of Detainees Gender Based Violence July 18 November 25 Art by Asia Bordowa Art by FEMFUND.PL Artists for feminism and feminism for everyone!

See all the works online →

Art by Jagoo Artystka Artists for feminism and feminism for everyone!

See all the works online →

Art by Yulia Krivich Artists for feminism and feminism for everyone!

See all the works online →

Art by Beata Sosnowska Wearing masks, Not being able to organize face-to- personal, live networking meetings – face meetings forced us to change we do not broadcast those, but believe in person, online, many plans to see you, meet you and us, a lot of inspiration and exchange but… we talk! have a conversation. But… we had goes on there! some ways of dealing with that. Secondly, we got in the car and... we Firstly, we started a new activity – took every opportunity we could to FemFund’s Conversations! These are meet persons from the community discussions on topics important to us in the safest possible environment. with persons from the FemFund com- We visited 12 groups and traveled munity, broadcast live on our social the length and breadth of Poland – media channels. The first one was over 4780 km! For us, these were the about activism of women living in brightest moments of last year. the countryside – that is where many FemFund grantees live. We feel that their voice is not always heard or lis- tened to during discussions about feminism. We want FemFund’s Con- versations to build solidarity and mu- Members of KGW (Village Housewives tual knowledge about the needs and Association) “Łapianka na obcasach” and strategies for acting in different com- PassionSharing during a networking meeting munities. There are more episodes coming soon! The Conversations are accompanied by longer, more

FEMFUND.PL Thirdly, the mini-grant review meetings this year were held – like almost everything – remotely. We were con- cerned about online communication fatigue and the fact that, after all, you cannot replace an in-person meeting with a call on an online platform, but... it worked out great! There was wine and herbal teas, tracksuits, glit- ter, lots of cats and, most of all, long conversations about what worked, what didn't, and what activism in general looks like in different parts of Poland.

In order to regularly inform you about the effects of the feminist mini-grants and to introduce you to the wonderful grantee-partners, we began sending out an electronic Voice of FemFund. In our Voice we let you know about important events in the life of the Fund.

FEMFUND.PL Acknowledgements That would not have happened without you

FEMFUND.PL Acknowledgements

Those 12 months would not have Artists who cooperated with us in Olmos (Euge), Catherine Borgman- been possible without many creating FemFund Calendar: Natalia Arboleda. wonderful persons. From the bottom Jerzak, Atakamakata, Asia Bordowa, of our hearts, we want to thank: Karolina “Szarosen” Plewińska, Beata Advisory Board consisting of: Sosnowska, Małgorzata Frąckiewicz, Natalia Broniarczyk, Sylwia Chutnik, Do Bregin and .kolektyw: Agata Pamela Bożek, Olga Wróbel, Jagoo Małgorzata Fuszara, Magdalena Kubis, Martyna Tokarska and Emilia Artystka, Karolina Kotowska, Karolina Grabowska, Kinga Lohmann, Oksentowicz Szota, Magda Skrzeczkowska, Natalia Katarzyna Rakowska, Natalia Sarata, Siuchta, Marta Frej, Agata Królak, Kasia Staszewska, Maria Świetlik. Wojtek Bogusz , Ilaj from Ulex Ewa Sumlińska, Martyna Matysiak, Facilitator of the networking meeting Project , Ania Zajdel (Badylologia) , Dominika Wilczyńska, Barbara for grantees, Justyna Dubanik, Natalia Sarata (RegenerAkcja) , Nawrocka, Monika Drożyńska, Marta Polish Sign Language translator and also: Zabłocka, Małgorzata Halber and Natalia Litwiniuk, Russian language Marianna Wybieralska, Ania Stolorz, Yulia Krivich. translators: Karina Melnytska, Gośka Bywalec, Piotr Chojnacki, Karolina Więckowska and Magdalena Karolina Pomarańska, Aleksandra The Audit Committee, consisting Kałuża. Sobczak, Andrzej Pietrucha, Ola of: Aleksandra Muzińska, Aneta Miastowska, Marta Tomkiewicz, Kluszczyńska, Marta Henzler. Ania Deryło , who prepares monthly Justyna Bułdys, Grzegorz Wiaderko, The whole team of the Prospera English-language Facebook news Marta Cyran. network, especially: Alexandra Garita, summaries for us. Fadekemia Akinfaderin (Kemi) and Katarzyna Pabijanek, María Eugenia Ola Wiśniewska and the whole We are also immensely grateful to our Our warm regards to all the people W Orbicie Słońca team, as well institutional partners who believed working in these institutions, who as Lulu Zubczyńska and Agata in us and made it possible for us to have generously given us support in Długołęcka, i.e. the great San create the Feminist Fund! more difficult times! Junipero Girls Crew DJs, for throwing a great party for FemFund’s 2nd Our thanks for a partnership based With you, everything is possible! birthday, on trust and mutual understanding go to: The Sigrid Rausing Trust, Love Does Not Exclude Association, Oak Foundation, MamaCash, Stefan with whom we share the physical Batory Foundation, Open Society space of our office, especially Ola Initiative for Europe and Open Kaczorek and Paweł Szamburski. Society Foundation, Global Fund Ms. Zoya and Jurek the Repairman for for Community Foundations and taking care of our space! filia. diefrauenstiftung.

Fundusz Dla Odmiany for coming to life and joining the Polish donors!

With you, everything is possible! Help us support feminist activities that build a better world for all of us. Set up a monthly payment! There are two ways to do it: Join • Through the PayU system on our website: femfund.pl/support • By bank transfer to our account: 79 9011 0005 3030 0080 2000 0018 us! Vistula Bank | transfer title: donation for statutory goals FEMFUND.PL And if you'd like to share your ideas for further development of the Fund, let us know at: [email protected].

Your money means more feminism!

written by: Marta Rawłuszko, Gosia Leszko photos: Agata Kubis and Emilia Oksentowicz / .kolektyw as well as FemFund's and Grantee Partner's archives proofreading: Ewa Furgał | translation: Aga Modzelewska graphic design and typesetting: Marianna Wybieralska